Job Specification

Job Summary :

To lead projects and engineering services related to the troubleshooting, development, design, construction and commissioning of municipal water and wastewater systems, under the direction of a senior manager/engineer.

To develop engineering business opportunities and foster client relationships in support of the Ontario Clean Water Agency's (OCWA) business goals, under the direction of a senior manager/engineer.

Responsibilities :

1. Leads project teams in undertaking various water and wastewater projects including the planning, implementation and evaluation of assigned projects, under general direction. Provides ongoing guidance and direction to project staff, internal junior engineers and external consulting engineers.
2. Attends and participates at project meetings; preparing notes and providing updates on issues impacting the project.
3. Prepares draft terms of reference and other documentation required to procure consultants for the preparation of technical reports, design and construction administration and other types of engineering/technical studies. Assesses alternative proposals as developed by consulting engineers.
4. Coordinates and monitors the progress of contract(s), prepares status reports and ensures construction projects comply with agreements and standard engineering practices.
5. Participates/assists senior staff in the acquisition of new assignments and clients and in identifying clients' needs. Prepares responses to issues raised by clients to address ongoing needs.
6. Participates in the design of water and wastewater facilities, preparation of procurement/tender documentation and related materials. Reviews submitted by consulting engineers ensuring that projects comply with legislation, design guidelines and standards.
7. Reviews and recommends payments for consulting engineers/contractors; prepares invoices for engineering services and forwards to clients for payment; investigates contractors' claims for contentious payments; prepares change orders, as required.
8. Monitors projects/assignments to ensure project budgets and operational goals are aligned; provides status reports and preparing options and recommendations.
9. Oversees operational performance of water and wastewater works during warranty periods; responds to problems/issues and conducts final inspections at the end of the warranty period.
10. Provides advice and guidance to clients and stakeholders on related to waste and wastewater engineering and construction, including legislative and financial advice; prepares documentation, reports, status papers with options and recommendations.
11. Develops a variety of technical/engineering reports such as capital plans, financial plans, engineering evaluation reports, memoranda, feasibility studies, funding applications with rationales, project budget estimates and construction estimates, approvals/permits applications, water/sewer studies, construction site reports including required proposals, study reports and user manuals and guidelines, etc.
12. Conducts negotiations with stakeholders, develops options illustrating pros and cons for each option; facilitates decisions to advance overall agency engineering strategies and plans. Negotiates agreements with clients on services and fees.

Qualifications/Licenses :

Licensed Professional Engineer by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO)

Knowledge :

Theories, principles and practices of chemical, civil or environmental engineering disciplines relating to water and/or waste water related fields.

Engineering design and construction of water and wastewater systems to support the development, design and construction of municipal water and wastewater projects.

Federal and provincial legislation related to the municipal and environmental areas to ensure compliance of water and wastewater work/projects with legislations and regulations to provide interpretation of acts, regulations to clients and stakeholders.

Ministry policies, programs, practices, procedures and standards including financial and administrative procedures to advise clients on matters related to water and wastewater engineering including providing financial advice.

Government approval processes, protocols/practices and evaluation techniques to lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of assigned projects.

Leadership and project management methodologies and best practices to manage smaller projects including budget, resources, and schedule demonstrating an understanding of successful delivery of projects within the group business model.

Research methodologies and evaluation techniques to lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of assigned projects.

Computers and related engineering software to conduct research, analysis, monitor work progress and prepare reports. Software applications such as word processing, PowerPoint, spreadsheets and database packages to review/evaluate data, conduct analysis and develop reports with recommendations and options; develop presentations for internal/external clients and stakeholders.

Communication/Interpersonal Skills :

Develops and prepares numerous technical/engineering reports such as capital plans, financial plans, engineering evaluation reports, memoranda, feasibility studies, funding applications with rationales, project budget estimates and construction estimates, approvals/permits applications, water/sewer studies, construction site reports including required proposals, study reports and user manuals and guidelines, etc.

Negotiates with clients, stakeholders to develop options, illustrate advantages and disadvantages of various options and facilitate decisions to advance overall agency engineering strategies and plans including negotiating agreements with clients on services and fees.

Communicates with clients, stakeholders, professional and industry related associations, municipalities to solidify working relationships, plan, develop and assess prospects for future business and maintain up-to-date with engineering and related developments in the business.

Plans, develops and conducts orientation/presentations, training for multifaceted internal/external audiences including technical staff and elected officials on various topics such as business cases, investigation results, project charters, project updates relating to water and wastewater systems/programs to support the promotion of the agency.

Maintains a strong liaison with clients' decision makers and stakeholders. Influences the decision-making process for OCWA's services to improve business relationships and facilitate decisions to advance overall agency engineering strategies and plans.

Communicates with internal staff (peers and managers) in OCWA to exchange information, advise, plan, coordinate and solve engineering and administrative problems, scope, schedule and budget of projects.

Communicates with consultants, suppliers and contractors to provide and obtain information, manage tendering processes, award and contracts; presents options/proposals and resolve problems/issues.

Problem Resolution and Analysis :

Researches and reviews regulation documents, ministry issues design guidelines/standards, supplier equipment brochures and technical data, plant operational data, process information, etc., to identify problems and develop solutions and options, ensure that options comply with current and any new regulations.

Identifies and examines issues and sources of conflict to ensure projects are completed on schedule and budget and meet client requirements.

Assesses work completed by contractors and consulting engineers, identifies errors and omissions, suggests corrections or modifications in areas of designs and non-compliance with Ministry standards and specifications. Identifies and recommends areas of operational process improvements and/or cost savings and determines/recommends course(s) of action.

Analyzes and evaluates the financial aspects of projects including dispute resolution with contractors or third-party consultants and negotiates project pricing with clients; prepares analytical reports and summaries/documents as required.

Leadership/Guidance :

Responsible for leading, monitoring and evaluating municipal water and wastewater projects according to client requirements, and as defined in the project framework, to ensure clients' needs are met.

Responsible for leading assigned projects and activities including engineers, consultants and contractors for smaller projects. Provides orientation and training, establishes goals and provides technical direction and guidance on a day to day basis; mentors and guides junior staff on projects.

Responsible for the profitability of small/less complex projects; estimating/managing contracts; authorizing payments and billing contracts. Maintains fiscal control over resources to ensure financial targets are met for the development, design and construction phases of municipal water and water waste projects.

Responsible for providing advice to clients on matters related to water and wastewater engineering and construction, including providing legislative and financial advice.

Independence of Action :

Work is performed under the general direction of senior engineers/manager and within the broad framework of government policies, practices, standards, administrative guidelines, best practices of engineering and legislative authorities.

Exercises judgment in providing technical engineering consulting support, including evaluating designs, identifying omissions, developing modifications and procuring and managing third-party engineering and consulting contracts.

Exercises judgement in prioritizing project workload to ensure client and OCWA expectations are met.

Physical Effort :

Job requires heavy physical exertion for up to two hours per day as there is heavy physical exertion such as climbing ladders, reaching, twisting when analyzing equipment, bending in awkward body positions up to two hours per day during site visits to facilities.

Mental and Sensory Effort :

Job requires concentrated mental/sensory effort to review, assess and analyze engineering designs, and prepare technical materials, reports and guides.

Working Conditions :

Work is typically carried out in an office environment, with limited exposure to disagreeable working conditions or hazards during site visits to water or wastewater facilities.